Skip to content

The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on anxiety and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS)

Alisaleh Ebrahimi, Shahrbanoo Ghahari

Chronic Diseases Journal March 12, 2023 DOI: 10.22122/cdj.v8i1.468 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Quasi-experimental study with a control group Peer reviewed
Sample size 30
Population Women with multiple sclerosis in Iran MS Society
Intervention Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
Duration 8 sessions
Topics Anxiety Depression Meditation
Keywords Multiple sclerosis Mood Stress
Key findings MBSR reduced anxiety and depression in women with multiple sclerosis.

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a stressful event in life and anxiety and depression are common in these patients. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) may help and reduce mood disorders in patients with MS. In this regard, the present study is carried out aiming to evaluate the effect of MBSR on anxiety and depression in women with MS.

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a control group with the statistical population including all women with MS in Iran MS Society. 30 patients were selected and classified in two groups randomly. The test group participated in MBSR training program for 8 sessions and the control group did not receive this treatment. All patients in the two groups completed depression and anxiety scales before and after the intervention and the data were analyzed by the SPSS software.

Results: The results showed that the two groups were different in the scores of anxiety and depression scales after the intervention (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: MBSR could reduce anxiety and depression in patients with MS.

Comparable studies

Other experimental studies on anxiety, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
A PILOT STUDY OF GROUP MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) FOR COMBAT VETERANS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) Veterans with chronic combat posttraumatic stress disorder seeking treatment at a VA... 2013 Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual comparison group n = 37
Being present in the face of existential threat: The role of trait mindfulness in reducing defensive responses to mortality salience. 2010 Experimental study
Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation-related anxiety relief Healthy adults with no prior meditation experience 2013 Within-subjects experimental study n = 15
Intensive mindfulness training-related changes in cognitive and emotional experience Community adults 2009 Quasi-experimental and longitudinal n = 69
Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment Volunteers 2019 Within-subjects experimental study n = 11

Explore topics